#1
Ryuukishi
What a lovely day!!
CAGiversary! 10902 Posts Joined 8.5 Years Ago

Dragon Age 2 thrusts players into the role of Hawke, a penniless refugee who rises to power to become the single most important character in the world of Dragon Age. Known to be a survivor of the Blight and the Champion of Kirkwall, the legend around Hawke’s rise to power is shrouded in myth and rumor. Featuring an all-new story spanning 10 years, players will help tell that tale by making tough moral choices, gathering the deadliest of allies, amassing fame and fortune, and sealing their place in history. The way you play will write the story of how the world is changed forever.

The main character in Dragon Age II is Hawke, a human refugee from Lothering who makes his way to Kirkwall, a city-state in the Free Marches, north of Ferelden. Hawke may be male or female and can be a warrior, rogue, or mage. Unlike the Warden in Dragon Age: Origins, Hawke will be voiced. The story will span ten years, starting with the destruction of Lothering which occurs midway through Origins' story. Dragon Age II is a framed narrative; Hawke's exploits are being told after the fact and the narrator may be unreliable at times. Dialogue will be driven by a wheel with icons indicating the tone of each possible response. Combat is being retooled to feel faster and more immediate.

Note on spoilers: I will try to avoid explicit story spoilers in the OP, but in general, I don't consider anything revealed by BioWare's PR to be a spoiler.

A magic item store that has some of the best equipment you'll find in the game. It's restocked with better items as you progress through the story.
A loyal mabari hound that fights at your side in battle.
The "Mirror of Transformation". Gaze into it and you can change your very appearance. Hair, eyes, tattoos, and more can be changed with the click of a button.
A crafting store which sells powerful unique recipes.
Explore the Black Emporium and uncover its strange secrets and lore. Be sure to see its strange proprietor. It should prove most... memorable.

[NO LONGER AVAILABLE] Preorders at participating retailers before January 11, 2011 will be upgraded to the BioWare Signature Edition with codes for downloadable bonus content. According to BioWare, there will not be any additional Collector's Edition release.

The Dragon Age II BioWare Signature Edition includes the full version of Dragon Age II plus an additional $20 worth of bonus content that includes:
A downloadable bonus playable character and missions
Downloadable game soundtrack
Downloadable in-game items including the digital armory that will feature a special weapon for each of your character classes

The bonus character and mission are Sebastian and The Exiled Prince DLC.

Sign up for the newsletter at the official site to receive a code for the Staff of Parlathan weapon

Register here to receive the in-game item Hindsight designed by Tycho and Gabe of Penny Arcade

Targeted by a vicious criminal cartel that are hunting "the blood of the Hawke," you must put an end to their relentless attacks. Leave Kirkwall, and journey to an ancient Grey Warden prison in order to find the source of the aggression and uncover the harsh truth about the Hawke lineage. Playable from any point in the DAII campaign, face all new darkspawn, forge a powerful new weapon and come face to face with an ancient horror.

Hawke meets a mysterious female Elvin assassin named Tallis, voiced by the talented Felicia Day, and joins her to steal an ancient relic from an Orlesian Baron in his well-guarded estate. A cross between Varric and Isabela, Tallis is a rogue who introduces a new fighting style to add more variety in combat. Get up close and personal with her deadly skills or stand back and pick off enemies with her ranged combat abilities.

Mark of the Assassin features new items, new enemies and monsters and new environments as well as giving players the opportunity to experience a new, tactical way to play with the return of Stealth gameplay. Plus, along with the new environments and monsters, you will learn more about the Orlesians and Qunari.

Unlock two bonus items, the High Lord's Belt and the Pendant of the Morning Frost, if you have unlocked at least one achievement in each of the three DLC packs The Exiled Prince, Legacy, and Mark of the Assassin.

And an oldie but a goodie since hardly any US media covered this, here's a story and YouTube clips I found of Warden's Quest, the competition EA held in London with groups of gamers from countries around the world right before the launch of Dragon Age Origins. If you read the interview I linked above with Mike Laidlaw, EA has not yet ruled out another similar thing for this winter.

It looks great to me. I just hope there are some pretty different looking characters.

Off Topic: I'm thinking of getting Awakening but I don't have a harddrive my DAO data is on my Xbox 360 System Data (I got a Jasper Chip Arcade Bundle)
Is it possible to play it like that or do I need a harddrive?

It looks great to me. I just hope there are some pretty different looking characters.

Off Topic: I'm thinking of getting Awakening but I don't have a harddrive my DAO data is on my Xbox 360 System Data (I got a Jasper Chip Arcade Bundle) Is it possible to play it like that or do I need a harddrive?

DA2 Looks stunning I've watched the trailer 4 times now.

Awakening was released as a disc as well. MSRP on it is $30 but it may drop next month when the Ulitmate Edition comes out.

Although, you won’t be creating your own custom Grey Warden as you did in Origins, Dragon Age II still lets you customize everything else so that your Hawke is as unique as you want him or her to be. The opening warrior, rogue, and mage classes return along with the ability to tweak your gender and appearance as you see fit.

#14
Ryuukishi
What a lovely day!!
CAGiversary! 10902 Posts Joined 8.5 Years Ago

Presumably they'll also be able to integrate your character's history and traits into the main story more. As cool as the multiple origins were in the first game, they didn't play into the main quest at all apart from a couple of unique dialogues. This time they won't need to worry as much about generalizing everything.

There's not enough room to have 4 possible main character races and 2 genders each to put 8 voice actors. You can only fit 2 for the main character so you have to lock down a race. Same reason why Shepard in ME is always a human.

So long as the Dynasty Warrior-esque "plow through an army in five seconds" game play and moronic AI stay in Varric's exaggerated flashback sequences (a.k.a. the demo) I'll probably end up picking this up. Otherwise... I'm still on the fence here.

Stop trying to Scooby-Doo this. We're not going to solve this mystery for you.

#20
Ryuukishi
What a lovely day!!
CAGiversary! 10902 Posts Joined 8.5 Years Ago

So long as the Dynasty Warrior-esque "plow through an army in five seconds" game play and moronic AI stay in Varric's exaggerated flashback sequences (a.k.a. the demo) I'll probably end up picking this up. Otherwise... I'm still on the fence here.

Thanks for the link! The character animation looks stellar, though the level graphics seemed even plainer than in Origins. I think they're going for a more minimal look for the backgrounds so I guess we'll see how this plays out over the whole game. I thought the combat looked like a blast. And yes, I think the gameplay depicted was the beginning of the sequence, with Varric greatly exaggerating Hawke's strength. I'm sure the typical combat is a little more deliberate.

Also, as a diehard Final Fantasy fan, I have to say I'm loving the sword that's as tall as Hawke. I hope that's not confined to the "exaggerated reality" sequences.

Not sure how I feel about touched up humanoid look of the Darkspawn just yet. I hope as the years fly by we're introduced to more grotesque forms and hulking baby eating hordes. Speaking of the sword I'm still LOLing at a select few complaining about the size of it. I mean... really? If it were Cloud Strife huge then maybe just maybe I could sympathize.

Also... where is our mage footage? ;'(

Stop trying to Scooby-Doo this. We're not going to solve this mystery for you.

There's been a lot of backlash, but I don't see why. I think the game still looks really good. I'll admit I'm disappointed that they took out the choice of race, but I'll deal with it. Definitely looking forward to it still.

Newsletter subscribers should be on the look out for their in-game weapon redeemable codes promised to us since Comic Con. I received mine a day or so ago for the Staff of Parthalan:

Magic has always run strongly within the Hawke bloodline. The tales passed down from one generation to the next tell of an ancestor named Parthalan, a mage who long ago helped to unite Ferelden under the rule of King Calenhad. Parthalan eventually vanished into legend, fleeing the persecution of the Chantry, but his legacy remains in the hands of his family - along with his hope that one day, mages would achieve the freedom that King Calenhad intended to bring to all men.

Developers have confirmed it is the same weapon Hawke wields in the trailer. Sexy but I'd honestly prefer some stats to go along with it. The prospect of the commanding two reasonably attractive apostate mages is looking better every day.

Honestly, is reading the main character's dialogue choices such a chore that you'd give up customization and choice to have audible dialogue?

I personally would not but to each his or her own. The only reason I'm currently giving Bioware the benefit of the doubt is because the devs confirmed ages ago the current demo is not an accurate depiction of actual game play. With that said I'm going to continue reserving any serious judgment until one surfaces. Now should the game appear as an unapologetic [insert game here] rendition of Dragon Age I'll more than likely direct my interest elsewhere.

Stop trying to Scooby-Doo this. We're not going to solve this mystery for you.

By providing links to other sites, CheapAssGamer.com does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to CheapAssGamer.com. CheapAssGamer.com is owned and operated by CAG Productions, LLC.